In a letter to Beron and Minor, Wheelock has asked the two Democrats to release the names, addresses and phone numbers of the residents who have made the allegations. Thus far, that hasn't happened.

The deputy mayor is now asking that the information be given to all council members. Wheelock contends that the increase in complaints is a result of what she calls Beron and Minor's "media campaign" opposing the plan.

"It is unfortunate that you found it necessary to exclude the town council and the administration from this information," Wheelock wrote. "As per our previous conversations, you both realize that in order for complaints to be handled in a fair and expeditious way they must be shared or no one knows about them."

The squabble over the housing code inspection has been going on for months. Beron and Minor have complained that housing code inspections were being done arbitrarily, and Minor cited the issue as a motivator in his decision to become a Democrat. Councilwoman Marie Herbst has questioned Mayor Joseph Grabinksi's re-issuance of a 20-year-old housing inspection plan without formally notifying residents.

Minor said he never received Wheelock's letter, which was dated July 16.

"I just think this is a poor way of conducting business," Minor said. "She sent letters to the press, but she didn't send a letter to me. She's not showing much leadership capabilities with this kind of action. She needs to concentrate on the duties of her position."

Beron, reached Wednesday, called Wheelock's letter "an embarrassment to the town council, town hall and the citizens of Vernon."

Beron said he told Wheelock when she first asked for the identities of the residents that those who had complained to him asked to remain anonymous. Furthermore, Beron said, he invited Wheelock to go door-to-door with him to discuss the issues with the residents themselves.

"She said she wasn't going," Beron said. "Now with public concern being raised about proper procedure being followed, Mrs. Wheelock chooses to ask for people's names and numbers. If she had chosen to go with me, she would have gotten the information firsthand."

Beron added that he still is willing to go to residents with Wheelock.

Wheelock denied that Beron ever asked her to accompany him to visit residents.

"That's a bold-faced lie," Wheelock said. "I would have gladly gone with him door- to-door, but [Beron] is a one-man show."

Wheelock said she issued the letter in response to Beron's public accusations that she was not responding to residents' concerns.

"How can I act on something that I don't have information about?" Wheelock said.

In response to Beron's invitation, Wheelock said, "If I get a letter from Patrick inviting the mayor and I to talk with residents, I'll be more than happy to go," she said.

Wheelock added that while she was fulfilling the duties of acting mayor when Grabinski underwent heart surgery two months ago, she learned of only one complaint regarding housing code inspections. The other unidentified complaints followed Beron's and Minor's campaign, she said.

Councilwoman Marie Herbst said the conflict is indicative of the way the plan was implemented.

"If we would have implemented procedure properly, we probably would not have this argument between two members of the council," Herbst said.